Neffs Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neffs Cave |
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| Neff's Canyon Cave | |
Typical passage in Neffs Canyon Cave in Utah. The cave is developed along a single fissure passage with many loose rocks and dropoffs requiring rope for descent.
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| Location | Salt Lake County, Utah |
| Depth | 1163 ft (354 m) |
| Length | 1700 ft (518 m) |
| Discovery | 1949 |
| Geology | Limestone, Shale |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Hazards | Rotten shale |
| Access | Restricted |
Neffs Cave, also known as Neffs Canyon Cave, is a large cave found in Neffs Canyon. This canyon is located on the north side of Mount Olympus in Utah, United States. It is one of the deepest caves in the United States.
Even though it is very deep and close to Salt Lake City, not many people go inside Neffs Cave. The United States Forest Service has kept the cave closed to the public for many years. This is because there are several dangers inside. In 1977, the National Park Service named Neffs Canyon Cave a National Natural Landmark. This means it is a special natural place that should be protected.
How Neffs Cave Was Found and Explored
Neffs Cave was first found in 1949 by two teenage brothers, John and Jamie Lyon. They were hiking in Neffs Canyon when they stumbled upon it. The brothers went back to the cave several times to explore how deep it went. However, they did not have the right gear to reach the very bottom.
During one of their last trips, John Lyon and some friends got stuck. They were at the bottom of a steep, crumbly slope made of shale rock. A rescue team, led by John's brother Jamie, had to help them get out.
After this rescue, more people started hearing about the cave. A group of explorers who were not very experienced reported going about 2000 feet (660 meters) into the cave. They found a very steep drop, over 100 feet (30 meters) deep, which stopped them from going further. They wrote to the Wasatch National Forest staff, telling them, "Our advice is, keep out."
Later, in 1951, a team from the National Park Service explored the cave for a few hours. They said the cave was not very pretty and was too dangerous to be a tourist spot.
In 1952, a group called the Salt Lake Grotto was started. This group is part of the National Speleological Society, which studies caves. A few weeks later, members of the grotto got permission from the National Forest Service to explore Neffs Cave. They spent almost eleven hours inside but could not reach the end of the main passage.
Teams from the grotto returned in 1953 and 1956. On their last visit, they finally reached the very bottom of the main passage. They figured out the cave was 1186 feet (361 meters) deep. This number was later changed to 1163 feet (354 meters). Neffs Cave is now known as the 15th deepest cave found in the United States.
Cave Features and Geology
The entrance to Neffs Cave is a small, rough opening. It is located in a ditch at the bottom of some low limestone cliffs. The main path inside the cave follows a deep crack in the limestone. This crack is called a fault.
The cave goes down through layers of limestone and shale rock. It follows a path that was carved out by a stream. This type of path is often found in karst areas, where water dissolves rock. There are not many side passages in the cave. One area with more side passages is called the Bedroom Complex. This area is about halfway through the main passage.
Special cave formations, called Speleothems, are not very common in Neffs Cave. However, explorers have seen areas of flowstone. Flowstone looks like frozen waterfalls made of rock. They have also found a few stalactites, which are formations that hang down from the cave ceiling.
